Turbulent Multiscale Interactions between Tearing Modes, Trapped-Electron Modes, and Zonal Flows
Interactions between MHD-scale tearing modes (TMs) and ion-gyroradius-scale trapped-electron modes (TEMs) in a fusion plasma are simulated with global gyrokinetics, using a consistent set of fixed equilibrium profiles. Unstable core TMs nonlinearly couple and transfer energy to smaller-scale stable TMs near the edge, where TEMs are present. Magnetic stochasticity from these edge TMs erodes TEM-generated zonal flows near the edge rational surfaces, leading to strongly increased electrostatic flux. This interaction of macro- and microscale modes suggests it may be possible to control microturbulence through current-profile modifications.
Authors
- Karl J. Friston
Institutions
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (DE)
- Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (NL)
- Eindhoven University of Technology (NL)
- Ruhr University Bochum (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Physical Review Letters
- Published
- 2025-12-11
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1103/dlct-5vwy
- Primary Topic
- Magnetic confinement fusion research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Office of Science
- Fusion Energy Sciences